2025 Writing Update – Part One

I’ve never done one of these before, but I reckon this is a good way to kickstart my blog again. It’s partly an update for readers, but it’s also an accountability post. After all, sharing something in public makes it more likely to get done, right?

Well, that’s the hope!

So, as a welcome back to blogging, here’s my first writing update for 2025. I’ll post an update at the end of the year to see what progress I’ve made. Until then, here’s what I’m working on, what’s next, and a cheeky plug for what’s already done.

In the Works

Since October 2023, I’ve been working on two projects – and they’re both very different.

I’ve always wanted to write science fiction and fantasy. There are more genres I’d like to write in but those are the ones I really enjoy. Writing two books, one in each genre, at the same time, has taught me a lot – almost as much as writing my first books (more on those later).

Sci-fi Thriller

The sci-fi thriller is an idea I developed back in 2011/12 during my final year at university. In fact, it was my creative dissertation. Once pushed out of my comfort zone and challenged to do something different, I came up with this idea.

Since then, I’ve let it stew. It’s such a big topic – one I’m not entirely sure I’m ready to tackle yet – and I used it as an excuse to push it to one side. After finishing my first series, I found myself thinking about it more and more.

I’ve got a draft ready to send to beta readers now, which will happen this year. I’m not sure it’ll be released anytime soon, but at least I can say I’ve started it.

I was told by the university tutor that pushed me to come up with it that this could be ‘the one.’ If it is, I want it done right.

Sword and Magic Fantasy Book One

If you’ve read Introductions: Volume One, you’ll know that the final three stories are a standalone series on their own. While each set of stories are introductions to other series/worlds/books, the final three are their own thing.

And yet, of the four sets of stories I included in the collection, its those final stories that most people asked me about. I didn’t plan on doing anything else with them but once an idea is planted, it has a way of taking over. It’s been a total change of plans, as the series I had planned to work on next has been pushed back because of this development.

The lore has certainly changed, as has the premise of the main characters. I’ll have to update the short story collection to fit the updated world, but I’m really happy with how it’s taking shape. I now have a draft ready to send to beta readers, which will happen in 2025.

Upcoming Projects

With those two books in a place where I can put them aside (for the moment), I need more to work on. I just can’t sit still (when it comes to writing). Thankfully, what comes next seems pretty obvious as while the sci-fi thriller is a standalone novel, the fantasy story is the beginning of a brand-new series.

Sword and Magic Fantasy Books Two and Three

Book one of the sword and magic fantasy was an experiment I released monthly to newsletter subscribers. Its most recent draft expanded the story and fleshed out the world and characters.

I’ve got plans for a five-book series, possibly six (but we’ll see how that goes). I could have started on book two right away but the changes made to the lore in book one are substantial. It would have meant big changes to book two. I figured it better to lay the groundwork properly first.

In 2025, I want to draft books two and three of this series starting from March.

It means another year where I won’t release a book, but it should put me in a good place to publish in 2026 and be far enough into the series that I can release one book a year until its done. The more I get done now, the better.

If I can get into book four before the year ends, even better.

Completed

I won’t lie, this as much a shameless plug as it is anything else. It’s not like I haven’t spoken enough about the books I’ve already finished and published.

Then again, there are still plenty of people who don’t know, haven’t bought, and haven’t read, my first series. If I didn’t take the chance to plug what I’ve done, I’d be letting a prime opportunity pass me by.

Weight of the World Series

In 2023, I published the third and final book of my Weight of the World series, an alien invasion story featuring a futuristic world, misfit heroes, and a lot of mech action.

It was quite the journey.

Of course, I hadn’t planned properly for what to do next, leaving me in the current situation of writing without publishing anything!

However, given the reaction has mostly been positive so far, and the first book, Reality Check, made it to the (unofficial) quarterfinal stage of SPSFC3, I’m incredibly proud of what that book and series has achieved so far.

Oh, and you should definitely pick the books up. They may not be perfect, but they’re a fun ride from start to finish and I think this is a coming-of-age story that really hits home. So, shameless plug time:

Anyway, let’s see what progress I make during 2025. There are big plans ahead, and I have a lot to do (and improve on).

Share your goals if you have any. We can work towards them together!

Until then.